The California Department of Public Health confirmed 32 such cases so far this year, compared to three measles cases reported over the same period in 2013. The uptick in cases comes amid a record-setting flu season.

And the threat of transmission increases among foreign travelers who come from areas experiencing outbreaks, such as the Philippines.

"We can expect to see more imported cases of this vaccine-preventable disease,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, state health officer and director of the Public Health Department.

At least 10 cases were reported in Los Angeles County, seven cases were reported in Orange County and five in San Mateo County, officials say. Alameda and Santa Clara counties each reported one case and Contra Costa County reported four such cases, officials said.

At least seven cases included people who traveled to the Philippines, where a large outbreak is occurring. Two others had traveled to India and another to Vietnam, where measles is endemic.

Officials say immunization is the best defense against measles. In fact, they say the high immunization rates in California have kept preventable childhood diseases, such as measles, at record lows during the last 20 years.

The U.S. attorney's office has filed criminal charges against the former CEO of a West Pratt Street mental health clinic that allege that he embezzled $50,000 meant for employee pensions and withheld hundreds of thousands of dollars in payroll taxes that were diverted to company executives'...

Additional weekday MARC train service will be added to the Camden Line next week as part of an initiative to boost connections between University of Maryland's campuses in Baltimore and College Park, the Maryland Transit Administration said Tuesday.